186 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. P. I amcome to converse with you, bywarrant from my lord of Canterbury. W. Indeed it is high time. I have been in close prison almost three months, and no one has yet been sent to confer with me, and reclaim me from error, if I be in any. P. I am come to you, and your companion, Mr. Field, about a letter from you, delivered by your wives to his grace of Canterbury; wherein you charge him with unjust dealing and cruelty. He would gladly know in what particular instance you can accuse him of injustice and cruelty. Field. To charge himwith cruelty we mind not: neither did we write any such thing. But we may justly charge him with unjust dealing. P. Why so ? What is the special cause of it ? W. Because he bath kept us in close prison almost three months without a cause. P. I judge it is not so. F. We wrote a book in time of parliament, justlycraving a redress and reformation of many abuses, for which we are thus imprisoned and uncourteously treated. P. That book I read over at the time of its first coming out; but since that time I have not read four lines of it. To speak my mind, though some things in it be good, I dare not justify all. W. What are the points which you so much dislike ? Mention some, andwe will gladly talk about them. P. So far as I can gather, you would have in the church an equality of ministers. W. We would not have it of ourselves.; but God's word requireth it. P. No: God's word is against it. F. [pray you let us see the place. P. Before I proceed, let me ask you one question. Do you both agree in this point? For if you do not agree, I shall labour in vain. F. We agree both in this point, and all others. For, the Lord's name be praised, there is no contrariety of judg- ment. P. You will allow of the name of a bishop. W. Yes, verily. P. And why so ? W. Because God's word alloweth the same, in the ordi- nary government of the church. P. You will, also, allow the name of an apostle.
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